James Sampley, who served for years as an Alabama Baptist pastor, died Dec. 22. He was 77.
Sampley served as pastor of First Baptist Church Ashville from 1996 to 2013 and as pastor of James Memorial Baptist Church in Gadsden from 1981 to 1987. He also served as pastor of Faith Baptist Church in West Blocton while he was a student at Samford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in religion.
After Samford, he earned a master of divinity and doctorate in ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Continued involvement in missions, ministry
During his years of pastoral ministry, Sampley also served churches in Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. He retired from full-time ministry in 2013, then served part time as minister of missions and senior adults at Crosspoint Church in Trussville until 2018.
Over the years, Sampley was involved in St. Clair Baptist Association and the Alabama Baptist State Convention, as well as missions in Guatemala. He was trained as an Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief chaplain. He also served in the U.S. Navy for four years after graduating from Fort Payne High School.
Sampley is survived by his wife, Judy; son, Ross Dean; daughter, Robyn; and two grandchildren.
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